Dear Editor,
I should like to pay personal homage to the Assistant Commissioner of Police, Mr Derrick Josiah, whose station in life and journey in this world came to an end on Friday, December 13, 2013.
There will be rivers of tears; emotions; tributes and eulogies trying to chronicle and espouse the virtues of the man; as well as veneration and reverence. In the end there will be a cortege and a contingent of ranks as well as a guard of honour consisting of two lines of ranks in even order, who will be given an order to fire a twenty-one gun salute, accompanied by a bugler blowing the last Post in the true military tradition of one hundred and seventy-four years.
Who was this man and what manner of man was he? I humbly submit that he was not an ATM machine, a handyman, or your private security guard, but a purpose-driven, accountable, self-disciplined person, working from the agenda of God, not his own. He accepted responsibility for his actions; he was goal oriented; he had integrity; he had a plan for his family; and was a firm believer in the faith. He was noted for his deep understanding of the law and police procedures, and his thinking was rooted in an understanding of social, philosophical and psychological issues.
Derrick Josiah was an executive member and ex-chairman of the Police Association. I vividly recall when he came on board his spirit of harmony and cohesion; his critical thinking and subordination of individual interests were some of the characteristics in his repertoire. He was the quintessence of enthusiasm in times of difficulty, disappointment and discouragement, and his inexhaustible enthusiasm snatched him from the jaws of defeat. His use of satire ‘Mabel’, ‘Festus’, ‘Rook Mix’, ‘Praim’ was not sardonic but created an upbeat mood in moments of despair and demotivation.
He employed his human skills to build consensus. At the time of his demise he had ordered the compilation of a list of senior and junior officers, senior non-commissioned officers and junior NCOs, who had retired from the force in Division ‘A’ between 2011-2013.
Commander GeorgeVyphuis having intimated to the Commissioner of Police Leroy Brumell his cancellation of the Division ‘A,’ Christmas luncheon should honour the memory of Assistant Commissioner Derrick Josiah by giving those ranks who contributed nearly a total of five hundred years’ service to the Guyana Police Force their just reward as an appreciation of their call to duty in the face of tremendous tribulations.
As an executive member of the Police Association I, in company with two other members made representation to Chairman Josiah in 2001, relative to body armour. We submitted a written report emphasizing that the police were the only peacetime force where ranks lost their lives and sustained gunshot injuries in the execution of their duties. Josiah had an audience with then Commissioner Laurie Lewis which resulted in then Deputy Commissioner W Felix initiating action.
Further, Commander Josiah, Inspector Lambert Delon, Personal Assistant in the Commissioner’s Office and myself visited former President Bharrat Jagdeo at the Office of the President making representations on behalf of ranks; Assistant Commissioner Josiah was then an inspector. His conceptual skills were prolific, and he possessed knowledge of the work system.
I conclude by saying the knowledge of God and the knowledge of self, are the basis of fundamental truth.
I pray on behalf of myself, fellow law enforcers, and persons who had magical interludes and interaction with Commander Derrick Josiah to show compassion and devout love to his family in their moments of distress, bereavement, and grief.
Yours faithfully,
Ronald Kendall
Human Resource Strategist
Police Association
